Super, Sunday Series!
Mon 01 May 2023
WINNER 30 OF 2023: FAIRMAC, trained by Charlie Johnston and ridden by Franny Norton: The £30k 'Sky Bet Sunday Series Middle Distance Handicap' over 1m 4.5f at Musselburgh.
Breaking well from stall 3, Franny asked him to be close up and as they settled down, he was happy to sit in 3rd and let 2 others go forward. Tracking the leaders, as they came into the straight, Franny just angled out between the two leaders and at the 3 furlong marker, was still looking comfortable as others came off the bridle. Taking the lead inside the 2 pole, he pulled clear and stayed on well, to win comfortably by 2 and a 1/2 lengths - his 5th career win.
"Fairmac and Franny Norton are running away with this!" Watch the full race replay here: https://www.racingtv.com/results/uk/440987-musselburgh/30-Apr-2023/1715
Timeform rated it as an 89 performance, saying: "Capitalised on a falling mark to run out a ready winner of a valuable pot returned to turf, never looking like getting caught when sent for home; tracked pace, travelled fluently, led over 2f out, drew clear approaching final 1f, pushed out.”
Here's Franny talking to ITV Racing after the race:
See the official photo gallery, here: https://www.grossick.co.uk/p/80532khg/C385538640/x4-fairmac
WINNER 31 OF 2023: THE THIN BLUE LINE, trained by Keith Dalgleish and ridden by Connor Beasley: The £35k 'Sky Bet Sunday Series Sprint Handicap' over 5f at Musselburgh.
The 15 runners set of at a fair pace and both our runners (Monsieur Kodi, for Richard Fahey in the blue cap) were towards the rear. Things got a little congested, but Connor managed to steer him through at the 2 furlong marker. Making headway as well as switching right over 1f out, he took the lead inside the final furlong and was driven out, to win by 3/4 of a length, winning for the 6th time. Monsieur Kodi hit plenty of trouble in running, but still stayed on to take 4th.
"The Thin Blue Line is getting the better of the argument." Watch the full race replay here: https://www.racingtv.com/results/uk/440990-musselburgh/30-Apr-2023/1845
Timeform rated it as a joint career best 89 performance, saying: "Produced a career best with the run of things in his favour, his stamina for further coming into play in the closing stages of what was a real test; in rear, ridden halfway, headway when switched 1f out, stayed on to lead last ½f, driven out, helped by being held up in a strongly-run race.”
Here's Connor talking to Racing TV, after the race:
See the official photo gallery, here: https://www.grossick.co.uk/p/80532khg/C385538643/x7-thin-blue-line
Syndicate manager of both horses, Mike says: "What a day! I am thrilled with these performances, taking big prize pots for their owners. Well done to them all - Paul getting interviewed on ITV Racing and two horses winning with owners in attendance, who are in both! I was delighted also, with Iato's Angel taking a close 2nd, with Monsieur Kodi also running into 4th after meeting plenty of trouble. We must thank Sky Bet for putting on these valuable races that saw plenty of runners and to ITV Racing for their coverage and highlighting the success of syndicates. Connor Beasley's win on The Thin Blue Line gave him a double on the day and so he took home the £10,000 jockey prize (see a photo in the gallery) - our congratulations to Connor. We'll keep targetting these races, as there are nice bonuses available through the series and thank you to our owners for their continued support and excitement...
Our second double of the weekend, with our horses winning £41,755 at Musselburgh yesterday. This means that we passed £700,000 of prize money won for the year, which is ahead of 2022, so everything is looking rosy! "